DEFENCE POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 7

DEFENCE POLICY

R.S.A. RESOLUTION. [ Per Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON. June 24. The defence policy of New Zcalai 1 was considered by the R.S.A. Conference to-day, when a remit was carried strongly urging the Government to appoint a Commission of experts, independent of political control, to inquire into the matter of defence in New Zea land, and bring down a scheme of defence, having regard to the requirements of the Committee of Imperial Defence and to the requirements of the three services, Air Force, Navy and the Army. GENERAL RICHARDSON’S VIEW. SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL SYSTEM. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, June 24. The view was expressed by the delegates at the R.S.A. conference that defence was a matter which should be outside politics. General Richardson supported the motion. He said he had been very sur[ri&ed to find that the territorial system, which had been built up with great trouble, had been so suddenly disorgan ised. Two years ago he was in Switzerland and in view of the fact that Switzer t i.<; was in the near! of Europe, and tho heart of tho League of Nations, he thought they would be perfectly safe in doing away with the defence system, but he found that was not the case. That country was keeping the system going till after the Disarmament Conference in February next. He stressed New Zealand’s duty to the Empire in time of trouble, and suggested that defence should not be looked at from a local point of view, but of the Empire generally. Not only would he like to sec a committee of experts, but he would like to see a permanent commite so that wo would always have a branch of the Imperia! Defence Committee composed of experts.

Sir Andrew Russell said the behaviour of the territorials at Hastings at the time of the ’quake was one of the best advertisements the territorials could have had, and was a lesson of incalculable value to the community of having within it an organised and disciplined body to meet emergencies. He suggested that territorial officers might help in any defence system which was in operation.